grommet

[ grom-it ]

noun
  1. Machinery.

    • any of various rings or eyelets of metal or the like.

    • an insulated washer of rubber or plastic, inserted in a hole in a metal part to prevent grounding of a wire passing through the hole.

  2. Nautical.

    • a ring or strop of fiber or wire; becket.

    • a ring having a thickness of three strands, made by forming a loop of a single strand, then laying the ends around the loop.

    • a ring of fiber used as a seal or gasket, as under the head of a bolt.

  1. a washer or packing for sealing joints between sections of pipe.

  2. Military. a stiff ring of rubber or metal inside the top of a service cap, designed to keep the top of the cap stretched flat.

  3. a metal-bound eyelet in cloth, sometimes used decoratively, as on a garment.

verb (used with object)
  1. to fasten with a grommet.

Origin of grommet

1
First recorded in 1620–30, grommet is from the obsolete French word gromette curb of bridle < ?

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use grommet in a sentence

  • The party are using spare time to make grommets of rope-work to go round the bases of 9.2 shells.

    The Western Front | Muirhead Bone
  • Grommets are round, endless rings of rope useful in a myriad ways aboard ship as well as ashore.

    Knots, Splices and Rope Work | A. Hyatt Verrill
  • When you get your tent made, have them insert grommets in each peak.

    Camp and Trail | Stewart Edward White
  • All the heavy canoes are pulled with oars, working in cane grommets, the others are propelled with paddles.

  • With the grommet punch make holes through the canvas just below the broomstick and secure with the grommets.

    Carpentry and Woodwork | Edwin W. Foster

British Dictionary definitions for grommet

grommet

grummet

/ (ˈɡrɒmɪt) /


noun
  1. a ring of rubber or plastic or a metal eyelet designed to line a hole to prevent a cable or pipe passed through it from chafing

  2. a ring of rope hemp used to stuff the gland of a pipe joint

  1. med a small tube inserted into the eardrum in cases of glue ear in order to allow air to enter the middle ear

  2. Australian informal a young or inexperienced surfer

Origin of grommet

1
C15: from obsolete French gourmette chain linking the ends of a bit, from gourmer bridle, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012